I figured it was time I posted something. It's been a while. As my mind ponders subjects to talk about. I thought I would talk about when I was green. There is one thing that everyone in wrestling has in common, at some point you was green and horrible.
I remember my first PAID gig in the wrestling business.I offered up my talents(websites/photography,etc) to a wrestler (Vinny Mac) who was starting his own show.At first, I was just going to be the photographer and do some website work. I wanted to maybe announce but at the time he had someone to do the job as announcer. Well lo and behold the announcer no showed and I got the gig. I have some video of my first announcing and honestly I was HORRIBLE! I will say it I was the drizzling sh*ts of announcing. I was green! As I worked the weekly show and listened to seasoned veterans who would need someone to bounce skits off of on the mic. I got to work with a co host(if you will) who would also help me get my sea legs.I worked with a wrestler who was on the injured list named Mack Daddy Shannon, who helped me out a ton.I thought he would just leave me in a cloud of dust, but as a true worker does, he really helped me get shine, which goes to confidence. I worked with Tony D Rock, an old friend(pre wrestling ) and because Tony was very outgoing it helped me as well.Finally and not lastly Smooth Plezing. I started working with Smooth and watched how as a manager he would announce his tag teams. I knew I had to learn from those who have NOT been trained in a backyard. As Jim Cornette says "Stealing from one is plagiarism, stealing from many is research!". I researched alot! I make it a habit of "putting over" people who have helped me get better. I still tell Smooth how much I appreciate the help he gave me, he scoffs at it, which makes me appreciate his help the more. I guess my mentioning anyone in this blog is doing the same thing as well, so to all those before mentioned...Thank you!
I mentioned earlier Vinny Mac giving me a paid job at Outlaw Championship Wrestling(2004-2009). Free admission to the show in which I ran around for 3 hours shooting pictures is not getting PAID(this was at another show)The first night Tony got his envelope(which is how good bookers pay their workers-I feel)at OCW, he looked at it like he was getting fired.Tony,also worked a show pro bono at other places. Getting paid is so much better than not getting paid, just saying.
Working and learning(which I am still doing) from some pros that have been in the business and knows what works and what doesn't work to put butts in the seats is invaluable as well. I learned alot from asking why are we doing this? I still ask that question.Then I got good answers that made the angle make sense.If you wish to lose fans book your show like TNA/Impact, or do it because someone thinks "It will be cool" which is code for IT WON'T MAKE SENSE!!!! Look at the silly monkey(cue YouTube clip)
In closing this,I feel I am more forgiving to a wrestler who is green and is working to try to improve.We all been there one way or another. Keep learning and listen(another Cornette-ism-"thats why you have 2 ears and just one mouth" so listen!). I am less forgiving of those who I saw wrestle 5 years ago and they are STILL horrible. There is this one dude who was horrible 5 years ago and now he is shot calling at a show,its a horrible show so no surprise there! I guess brutal honesty for improvement is FROWNED upon! I wonder if he watches and says I am the best I can be? Sadly, I bet he would say something like "doesn't matter as long as I get my RKO in."
4 comments:
Well said BC, and if everyone would stop thinking they have learned enough and actually give a crap about the business and complaining about things, there would be some great shows, but like I have said a million times, putting on boots and tights does not make you a worker, and if promoters would put pride and integrity into their shows and actually care about the business, then alot of shows would be where they should be, thanks for your kind words, and those were fond memories, and maybe one day paths will cross again in a good way, until then, keep up all your great work and thanks for being a great person and take wrestling seriously, only if alot more would!
A true veteran in this buisness will tell you they still do not know it all. They will say things like I wish I would have done something different in that match.I have met alot of people and seen some go in doors I will never get into. I also have seen guys that have been in this buisness fall behind because they got to the stage where they felt they knew everything there was to know. Egos is the cancer in this buisness. Not enough heart and to much ego. You have to care about what your doing and when you do that you will help protect this business.
Oh yeah, great post by the way.
Thanks for the nice comments, the checks are in the mail(just kidding). The bar seems to be low.I know how I got into the business may not have happened 20 years ago, maybe this is why I keep learning.I guess if we keep talking about it and making it not taboo maybe just maybe these young guys/gals and money marks will know it made money before and can again.
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